Obama: Washington is a disaster (area)

President Obama on Monday declared that a “major disaster” exists in Washington due to the winter storms that caused snow and ice emergencies, flooding, landslides and mudslides during mid-January.

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The declaration makes federal money available to state and local governments, as well as some private entitles, to pay for emergency work and repairs to damage stemming from the severe weather.

Eleven of Washington’s 39 counties are eligible for federal dollars, including the population centers of King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston Counties.

Interestingly, federal dollars will be flowing to three counties — Lewis, Klickitat and Skamania — where angry words regularly flow toward the federal government from property rights activists and local officials.